Delhi excise policy scam: ED arrests Kejriwal, SC likely to hear

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 following his plea for relief against coercive action by the ED in the Delhi High Court was denied

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday night by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)on charges of money laundering and corruption in the 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy case.

In the evening, ED officials, along with the Delhi police, reached Kejriwal's residence and, following a brief interrogation, arrested the Chief Minister around 9:15 pm, amid loud protests by the AAP supporters.

The arrest comes after multiple ED summons to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor. Earlier on Thursday, the Delhi High Court refused to grant relief to the Delhi CM against any 'coercive action' by the agency. The court posted another hearing on April 22 on Kejriwal's plea seeking immediate relief. "We have heard both sides, and we are not inclined at this stage," a Bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain said.

Seeing no respite from the Delhi HC, the AAP convenor moved the Supreme Court against the HC's decision. Led by senior advocate A M Singhvi, Kejriwal is seeking an urgent hearing in the top court.